Common Writing Assignment Materials developed to accompany Choices in Little Rock
1) CWA Writing Prompts: We have developed three writing prompts that allow students to use the historical evidence in the Choices unit to write an argumentative essay. These prompts represent three different ways to approach a similar question. Prompt #1 asks students to connect the ideas in Choices to a general theme of how society changes. Prompt #2 is framed tightly around the history of “Choices in Little Rock” and may be most appropriate for inexperienced or struggling writers. Prompt #3 asks students to present an argument in the form of a formal proposal to an outside audience, exemplifying a real-world application of persuasive writing.
2) CWA Writing Journals: For each prompt, an accompanying writing journal has been developed as a tool for teachers. Designed with “backwards planning” in mind, the activities in the writing journals can be used throughout the CILR unit to help students build ideas and evidence for their essay. In the writing journals, we suggest when an activity could be implemented within the context of the Choices in Little Rock unit. We have provided sample handouts for you to adapt for your own classroom context. Students can also complete this work in their interactive notebooks.
CWA Preparation Journals
3) CWA Supplemental Teaching Strategies: We have suggested teaching strategies to support the stages of the writing process: Prewriting (Gathering evidence, developing arguments, writing a thesis statement) Writing (introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions) Revising and editing Sharing
Common Writing Assignment Materials developed to accompany Choices in Little Rock
1) CWA Writing Prompts: We have developed three writing prompts that allow students to use the historical evidence in the Choices unit to write an argumentative essay. These prompts represent three different ways to approach a similar question. Prompt #1 asks students to connect the ideas in Choices to a general theme of how society changes. Prompt #2 is framed tightly around the history of “Choices in Little Rock” and may be most appropriate for inexperienced or struggling writers. Prompt #3 asks students to present an argument in the form of a formal proposal to an outside audience, exemplifying a real-world application of persuasive writing.
2) CWA Writing Journals: For each prompt, an accompanying writing journal has been developed as a tool for teachers. Designed with “backwards planning” in mind, the activities in the writing journals can be used throughout the CILR unit to help students build ideas and evidence for their essay. In the writing journals, we suggest when an activity could be implemented within the context of the Choices in Little Rock unit. We have provided sample handouts for you to adapt for your own classroom context. Students can also complete this work in their interactive notebooks.
CWA Preparation Journals
3) CWA Supplemental Teaching Strategies: We have suggested teaching strategies to support the stages of the writing process:
Prewriting (Gathering evidence, developing arguments, writing a thesis statement)
Writing (introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions)
Revising and editing
Sharing
4) CWA Middle School Rubric: This was written by Boston Public Schools to be used with this assignment.